The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1887-07-02

ing touches him so quickly as the
sutferings Of poor dumb beast.
A few days ago couple Of men
who were travelling overland i'm a
"prairie schooner" anchored their
craft on some vacant lots back of
Mr.. Dollinger's barn. They had
come from Missouri and we're 60
ing up into the Mouse river country
and stopped in the city for rest and
relaxation. They picketed out their
mules, and every day went down
town, where rest and relaxation re-
tails at 10 cents a glass, or two for
a quarter.
Every time they went away they
left Q large, lean, meek and sorrow
ful-loOking dog chained under the
wagon. lie was not one of those
savage-appearing dogs, with his
fOrelegs far apart and nose in the
air, but seemed mild and gentle and
accustomed to better things. He
had a tender gray eye, a week and
undecided lower jaw and a narrow
chest that gave him the appearance
of having the consumption. He
had a procession of ribs on either
side like a picket fence; he never
barked or growled, and sometimes
he would cough with a hollow, con-
sumptive sound and hold a fore
paw up in front of his mouth in a
way which convinced Mr.. DOllinger
that he had been used to good So
cicty.
II believe those fellows stole that
dog somewhere" said Mr.. Dollinger
to Mrs. Dollinger. Gle is some
good old family dog that they have
enticed away from home and are
dragging around the country with
them"
"That's just what l think" she
replied. 81 noticed the poor thing
to-day under the wagon all alone.
What a slender nose and high fore
head it has"
"Yes, and such a kind eye. There
is a great difference in dogs, but it
all shows in their eyes. Anybody
could see that this dog wouldn't
harm a child, just by his eye. |
have thrown him some feed several
times lately"
But don't you think the poor
thing ought to be united so that it
can run around and get some cx-
ercise and play with the other dogs
a little?"
81 never thought of that be-
licve I'll 60 right out and let it
loose and see it express its graft
tude by playing around me-"
So Mr.. Dollinger went out to the
wagon. The dog wagged its tail
feebly and the lid of his left eye
kept dropping down as if he had
lost control over it,"
"Poor doggie !" said Mr.. Dollin-
ger, as he reached down and un-
snapped the chain from his collar,
"poor doggie, I'll let you loose"
The dog turned part way round
when he found he was at liberty,
but did not seem inclined to leave
the wagon.
"Poor thing. you've been tied so
long that you don't know how to
play" said Mr.. Dollinger. Then
he noticed that the end of the chain
was on the ground, and picked it
up with the intention of hanging it
ON the spoke of the wheel so it
wouldn't get rusty. When he first
started to raise up again he thought
a Florida alligator had crawled up
without being seen and taken hold
of the calf of his leg. He was con-
tident that he could hear the bones
cracking. Then he thought of the
dog, He managed to look around
with one eye and saw that it was
the dog.
1.-THE poor thing is trying to
play with you," called Mrs. Dollin-
ger from the back fence.
Don't l know it?" replied Mr..
Dollinger as he felt the blood begin
to run into his shoe. He worked
himself slowly around, and the
dogs foreleg's remained planted
firmly, but his head swung with
Mr.. Dollinger's leg and his body
raised up a little and swung around
in an opposite direction with little
jerks.
"Nice doggie! Nice doggie !"
and he reached down his hand.
" That's nice dOggic-let go and
we'll run and have some fun"
This idea seemed to please the
dog, and he let go and they ran.
Mr.. Dollingcr started for the fence,
but the dog headed him off with
two bounds and chased him back
past the wagon, all the time bark
ing with a voice which sounded as
if it came out of a cave that ran
back under the ground to the Ne
braska state line.
"Great thunder !" yelled Mr..
Dollinger, and lodged as the dog
leaped up and tried to get him by
the throat.
"Don't 60 near the wagon-he
thinks you're trying to steal some
fhingp screamed Mrs. Dollinger,